Christmas tills set to feel pinch of Brexit

The impact of Brexit could make for a gloomy Christmas for retailers after latest indications of a slowdown in the sector ahead of the festive period.

Retail Ireland, the Ibec group that represents the retail sector, said its Retail Monitor for the third quarter of this year showed a fall in consumer sentiment and a slowing down in sales.

Retail Ireland said the Government now needed to prioritise support for the sector and take steps to ensure shifts in currency do not hamper the economic recovery and the jobs associated with it. Adding a warning over wages, it said there needed to be “a renewed effort is needed to keep labour, energy, regulatory and insurance costs in line”.